Taking It to Work:
When I think back to before the Lord pulled me out of my pre-Christian life, I am astounded of how blind I was to so many things. I did things that were blatantly wrong, from my perspective now, that I justified as good and right back then. I had attitudes and language that make me cringe now, but I felt perfectly comfortable then. I was even corrected a time or two by some “holy rollers”, and I remember laughing it off as they were the blind ones.
As Christians working amongst non-Christians, it is easy to forget why those who are lost act as they do. We somehow lose sight of the fact that they are not where we are. Yes, if we acted or talked like that, it would be appauling, but in reality, we can’t expect them to act differently than the culture around them. We need to have patience, love, and forgiveness, as God has had with us when we had no clue.
We have been called, redeemed, and have been given the Holy Spirit and His Word to help us see. They are in need of the same thing. Show them grace as you live and work with them. Forgive them as you have been forgiven. Lead them gently and humbly, that one day they might see, through His gentle Word working brightly through you, today.
1 Cor 2:14 (ESV) – The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
1John 2:15 (ESV) – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Jer 5:21 (ESV) – Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not,
who have ears, but hear not.
Prv 12:15 (ESV) – The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.
2Peter 3:9 (ESV) – The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Listening to the Holy Spirit:
You have My Spirit. You have given to Me yourself, and you are Mine. With this you now see, still in part, but you are no longer blind. The many who work beside you, they are still in deep darkness – blind to what is now obvious to you, but you only see by My Spirit. It is not your doing, but a gift of My hand as you choose to follow Me. They do not have such a gift. As they respond, so I give. Do not grow impatient with them, nor grow angry. They do not see. Lead them gently with a heart to forgive. Even when they call you a fool for My Name’s sake, regard them not as enemies as I regarded you not in your days of blindness. You are the light in the darkness; an unlit candle cannot be expected to illuminate. Love them as I have loved you. Draw them closer; do not shun and judge. They cannot see; you work with them, that someday they might.
